Anybody with a remotely passing interest in metal can remember that day in December 2004 when Dimebag Darrell Abbott was gunned down in Ohio. Four years later (to this day,) it's the most dwelled-on metal event of the decade. The outpouring of tributes, debates and cash-ins are still going strong, and are likely to continue after the rest of us are gone.
But like Jimi Hendrix, Dimebag's monumental legacy can't overshadow the fact that this guy made really great music. It's beyond anyone's writing ability to convey the emotional wallop of "Cemetery Gates," the lawlessness of "A New Level" or unmatched aggression of "Strength Beyond Strength," so whether you own every album or have been meaning to ask your older brother about Pantera, check out a few great moments from Dimebag's life below.
The level of innovation, skill and songcraft packed into this perpetually grinning, whiskey-chugging everyguy who just happened to be a metal guitar superhero is still unparalleled by anything else in music. Ever heard "the Pantera of the '00s?" Didn't think so.
Pantera, "Mouth for War"
Pantera, "Cemetery Gates"
Pantera, "A New Level"
Pantera, "Suicide Note, Part 2"
Pantera, "Strength Beyond Strength"
Pantera, "Cowboys from Hell"
